‘ISIS chemical weapons expert’ killed in airstrike – US

A chemical weapons expert who is believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State has been killed a US-led airstrike in Iraq, the US Central Command said.

The suspect, identified as Abu Malik, was initially working as a
chemical weapons engineer during the rule of Saddam Hussein, the
Central Command said. After the invasion of Iraq by coalition
forces, he apparently sided with Al-Qaeda and then ISIS.
He was reportedly killed
in an airstrike near Mosul on January 24.

"His death is expected to temporarily degrade and disrupt the
terrorist network and diminish ISIL's ability to potentially
produce and use chemical weapons against innocent people,"
the statement said, according to Reuters.

Islamic State fighters were earlier accused of using chemicals
such as chlorine gas in their attacks on Iraqi towns.
So far the group has
only been reported to have used chemicals in more primitive ways,
such as roadside bombs, apparently having no access to more
effective means of delivery.

However, last summer, the Iraqi government informed the United
Nations that it had lost control of a former chemical weapons
depot to ISIS. The facility near Baghdad was the main center for
chemical weapons production prior to the 1991 Gulf War.

The facility was believed to still contain some 2,500 rockets
with the lethal nerve agent sarin, though it was unknown if any
of the material still posed a threat after so many years in
storage.